Often, the ends of the pear's segments were fitted with sharp tines, designed to rip into the throat, intestines, or cervix.

What ever cavity that the pear entered would face a range of things, from a slight expansion of the pear's segments and discomfort for the victim, up to total expansion and unrepairable (and very painful) mutilation of the cavity.

The pear of anguish... a little torture contraption that does major damage